ST. JOSEPH (MO)
St. Joseph News-Press
Two Kansas City television stations report that one of about 100 people arrested in a multi-county prostitution sting last week was a St. Joseph priest.
KMBC and KSHB reported Tuesday night that the Rev. Vincent M. Rogers, pastor of St. James Catholic Church on King Hill Avenue, was arrested last week and was placed on administrative leave by the Kansas City-St. Joseph Diocese.
Father Rogers, who has not been charged with a crime, could not be reached for comment. The answering machine at his parish office said the priest is “out of town for a few days.”
The message referred church business to Father Matt Rotert, a priest at St. Columban Parish in Chillicothe, Mo.
Diocese officials said Father Rogers notified Bishop Raymond J. Boland of the arrest, news accounts said. The priest told the bishop he made phone calls to arrange for a massage. Police arrested him after he showed up for the appointment.
